The Interim Attorney General has confirmed that counsel for both the interim government and ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase are currently meeting to decide on which witnesses will be called in the case regarding the takeover on December 5th, 2006.
In a press conference this afternoon, Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum clarified that consultations are necessary to ensure a speedy hearing.
As the case got underway this morning, one of the state lawyers, QC Guy Reynolds revealed that their principle submissions in the case would be that the events of December 5th and onwards were undertaken under the directive of the President of Fiji through the reserved prerogative powers vested upon him.
In his opening remarks, Laisenia Qarase's QC, Nye Parrom highlighted the events leading up to December 5th.
Parrom went on to say that all the respondents claims in terms of the President’s executive authority and the ten declarations now sought that Qarase did not inform the President of matters of national concern, are all their ways to try and show that there was a necessity to carry out a coup. He said they will show that there was no such necessity and no powers in the constitution of Fiji which allows a soldier to carry out acts or give directives for various actions to be undertaken.
The case is adjourned till 10am tomorrow morning.
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